Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-16

ton or tnlS lnStlIute DelleVe IL IL
fulfilling It's mission, and carrying
ont,the objects for which it was
established.
oELEEMOsYNARY INSTITUTIONS.
: An examination OF the interest.
ing reports of the Boards of Direc-
tors and Snperintendents OF the
fonr Insane AsyIums and the In.
stitution for the education Of the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind will show
that the trusts reposed therein have
been faithfully executed, beneficial
sanitive measures have been adopt
ed, proper regulations have been
put in force, and excellent care and
attention bestowed upon the in
mates and pupils.
The recommendation contained
in these reports in regard to in.
surance and other matters, will re-
ceive your careful consideration
The State has no higher or more
sacred duty than the maintenance
of this unfortunate class Of her
citizens.
During the past fiscal year end
ing September 80, 1887, 42O ap.
pIlcations were received at the
Eastern, Western and Southwestern
Asylums for admission, and 317
were admitted. .f
All the cOlOred insane can be
provided for as soon as the adj
tlitions to the Central Lunatic Asy.
lum are completed.
In the Eastern Asylum the aver
age number OF patients fer the
past fiscal year we're 401 in the
Western Asylum on October 1st
there were $50; in the Southwest
'ern 130 the present capacity of
this asylum is $50; in the Central
Asylum the daily average for the
year was 47O.
The number of pupils at the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute
lis 334. "7
The additional buildings to the
Central Lunatlc Asylum, for which
the Legislature of 1886 sppropriat.
ed 900, 800, will beready for use by
the 1st of January next ; 200 more
patients can then be provided for
This will not only take all the
Iioolored insane out of jails, but re-
ieves the asylum of its overcrowd-
ed condition. The Superintendent
reports that "the increase of in
sanity among the colored race is
amazing,' and he fears that Sin
two years there will'be from $50 to
200 colored insane unprovlded for.'
There seems to have been most
lnjudicious use made of S2O2,OOO
appropriated for the erection OF
the main building to the Asy-
lum. In a statement embodying
the result of a recent examination
of the building made by a com
petent architect, at the request OF
the President of the Board OF
Directors its condition and manner
of construction is fully set forth,
and the fact disclosed that the
State is not in po session of such a
building as her liberal appropria
ton for it would seem to Justify
The foundation walls in many
places are cracked already, and
the bricks are of such inferior make
and material that they are being
crushed by the weight above.
AGRICULTURAL.
There is no question which car
be brought before the Legislature
of more importance 10 Virgins
;han the promotion of her agri,
cultural interests.
1t has been we'll said that plea
for the farmers is a plea for the
State, and the great number OF oul
citizens yho are engaged in pro
,viding for themselves and theil
families a support from the soil
)slould incline their representatives
to the passage of all laws which
will advance the interests of The
farmers. The whole State will a.
once feel any vigorous increase il
its agricultural prosperity.
The career for stockraislng and
sheep. farming in the future i
broad, but.the development of tll'
small industries and grain growing
has not been attended in some
I parts of the Stale with gratifying G
results.
The present faithfula efficient
Commissioner Of Agriculture II
diligently striving to bring about a
better cQndtion of things in his
department, bnt the means OF ac
compllshlng this end are very
I limited.
y. | recommend an increased. ap
l,propriation for the Department oil
7 Agriculture, to be provided for
Il either by a tax upon fertilizers o.
lin such other way as the Genera
Assembly may determine TO o'
best. | would also recommend
I, that the Commissioner :of Agricul
|. ture be made a member er.oticlo o
the Board of Visitors of the Vlr
ginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College at Blacksburg, aud bea
the same relation to that college q
II the Adiutant.Genera will do to th'
Virginia Military Institute atte
the lst of January next. woul'
! II o ia